CFCF & Synergy - I'm Home

I'm Home, after a long trip of almost 17 hours on the road, but this is worth every minute. This post will be full of superlatives because I can't find the words to express what I've been and seen this past week.

It's started at CFCF (Cabin Fever Clay Festival at Laurel Maryland) with a funny and intriguing Nan Roche class, the title was "Faux Cinnabar: working with Japanese Kashigata and Polymer Clay", using 100 years molds, and after about 5 hours we went to bed all happy and anxious for our next day.

Second day started with Maureen Carlson class - "Tool Troll", sculpturing a troll using our hands and some cool silicon molds, we found out that a troll (since no one seen one recently) can have lot's of interesting characteristics, for example: i found out that mine had 2 left hands...! can you argue with that? How do you know trolls don't have 2 left hands? but i will not give up, i did some pinching and got his fingers back in place :) and Maureen? She's a magical as her beautiful art, the sweetest lady with perfect hands for sculpturing. My troll is not yet finished forgive him for his underwear appearance....

At noon we had the great Jana with her amazing kaleidoscopes, giving us the perfect class and those perfect handouts, preparing the class to the finest details! Since i am a millefiori fan i enjoyed every minute (but again, didn't have time to finish my piece!)

Evening Class was the one i needed after a long long day, something to wake myself :) - Christie Freisen! Making an Australian beautiful flower was a recommendation but since i had so much laugh with my classmates Kathy and Debra my flower doesn't really resemble the one i was asked to do...but! i did finish this piece! Kisses Christie!!

The last class was Tuesday morning - Julie Picarello - the cutest sweet person! her Mokume Gane is amazing, the class was well presented and although i chose a strange color set i was pleased and happy to learn from such a talented artist (and couldn't resist buying 2 of her pieces).

Tuesday night included also a Pajama Party, a silent auction and a zipper puller swap!
I had the great time and send lot's of kisses to my new friends - my dearest roommate Kathy Elrick, Debra Davis, Barbara Forbes-Lyons, Karen, Julie and Katie from Alaska, Emi Fukushima, Kim Korringa, and many more! We had a blast!

So...Moving forward to Synergy 2008 in Baltimore, i was offered a ride with Julie Picarelo and navigating was a challenge! We had some good laughs!
In case you need a reminder, Synergy is a national guild event, a "pasta machine free" class from the top artists from all over the world. Some of the people i heard were Kathleen Dusteen, Lindly Haunani, Judy Kuskin, Judy Dunn, Seth Savarick, Alev Gozonar, Dan Coremier with Tracy Holmes, Elise Winters, Jeff Dever, Robert Dancik, Carol Duval, Cynthia Tinnaple, Kim Cavender, Judy Belcher, Maggie Maggio and many more!
In one (or maybe few) words - Outstanding & overwhelming!

Beyond Craftsmanship, business and design issues other issues like inspiration, originality, infringement, production vs. ooak, standards were discussed in panel discussions, interesting points were raised and we tried figuring what are the future steps or future art will look like with the help of Cynthia Tinnaple great presentation - we got a fascinating review of what's next.

And how can i miss mentioning meeting some of my Etsy guild (PCAGOE) - Kira and Ilysa, Bettina, Elisabeth and more!
Rob and Wilma from Polymer Clay Express, Melanie West (which made us all laugh at the gala dinner with a scary camping story) - such an adventure!

As you see my "spongy" parts absorbed so much information, there is so much to think about and i am ready to move on.

I had the greatest time, beside the educational part i met new dear friends which will stay close to my heart,

THANK YOU GUYS!
see you soon!

(i'm coming back in 6 months! :) )

After 3 Days in NYC, I'm heading to CFCF

Oh, those were heavenly 3 days in New-York City, although my NY flight was canceled due to the weather i did arrived one day late and after 8 years since my last visit, i enjoyed my return and visited all the places i wanted to, i must mention that every muscle in my body ackes from all the walking i did but that's nothing few days of claying won't heal...

Soooo, what have i done...I've been Downtown bought some goodies in Canal street, been in PEARL Paint but they almost had NO polymer clay! visited "Bodies" exhibition, walked all the way from there to 48th street, shopped for costumes for Purim in NewYork Costumes amazing store, wish we had one of those in Israel...made some shopping for the kids in the big ToysRUs store in Times Square, The beautiful Apple store, Central Park, Union Sqaure, F.A.O Shwartz unique toys store, Macy's, H&M and so many more i can't even remember...

I'm ready to go back to my working table and learn from all the talented artists and teachers in CFCF and Synergy. My flight leaves in few hours to Baltimore.

More to Come!

1.5 more days left....

Well, i am about to get my suitcase(s) ready so i should really log off from my computer, otherwise i would'nt have any clothes to change when i arrive to New York! :)

I just wanted to say good bye till my next blog post, hope to have a quick return and some updates on my adventures, I will be participating in the CFCF event in Laurel, MD and in Synergy 2008 in Baltimore.

Come and say hello if you see me, i guess you will know me by my photo here.

Wish me a safe flight! see you over the ocean!

Polymeri Online 7.2.08

A nice tutorial i found in one of my mailing lists by PoisonandAntidote, it's a JELLY DONUT Tutorial -
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=223979.msg2419907#msg2419907
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=67398
http://chat-noir.deviantart.com/

Even though Christmass has passes, here are polymer clay santa's by gloriibes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriibes/

Tina T.'s Polymer Clay / Tina Thompson
Her sister-in-law introduced her to polymer clay in 2004. Since then,she hasn't been able to put it down. Tina started making funny looking Fairies and giving them as gifts to her family. But later found that she could make beads.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14939649@N08/

Jeannerhea and her adorable old lady sculpturing - "This woman was sculpted to reveal the obsession that artisans often feel about polymer clay". Made from Cernit and Premo polymer clays, including the old woman's clothes. 24" x 24" x 24"
http://www.jeannerhea.com/page2.htm
lot's more links in her site!

Pat Bolgar with a beautiful site, works with both Polymer clay and precious metal clay (PMC) & some mix material jewelry.
http://www.patbolgar.com/

Polymeri Online 31.1.08

Garie Sim just opened a new blog, he is currently teaching kids from 4 plus to 16 years old. According to him the only way to encourage kids to try out the clay, is to starts teaching them in making some basic things relating to their interest. Show them the various possiblities in using the clay plus their ideas.
http://gariesim.blogspot.com/

Chris Pellow is a self-taught artist, still learning as he goes along, with a love for mainly acrylics, clay, paper clay, leather and cork.
http://www.chrispellow.com/
Take a look at his first attempt at Arabesque Caning -
http://www.chrispellow.com/canes.html

Jessica and Susan Partain (sisters!), they hand-sculpt all of their charms from polymer clay.
http://www.inediblejewelry.com/about.html

toothfairyminiature / Rachel (see photo)
Rachel is a miniature lover and a self-learning miniature artisan. She collects and make her own dollhouse miniature and also enjoy trying and practicing new techniques and materials.She started collecting 1:12th scale miniature in 2002, since 2004 she makes her own dollhouse size miniatures using air dry Polymer Clay. She specialized in miniature cake, tarts, pies, cookie and some flowers.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5372559
http://www.flickr.com/photos/toothfairyminiature/
http://miniaturesbyrachel.blogspot.com/

Want to see some dogs? Bakari Dobermans!Dogs and Art! great combination! Their dog pendant heads are handsculpted using polymer clay.
http://bakaridobes.westhost.com/
http://bakaridobes.westhost.com/statues.htm

Yen (Elenora) from Rome, Italy with lot's of cute food miniatures
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yenhmstore/
http://www.yenn.etsy.com/

Linda Hess from polymercreations4u features a variety of creations made of polymer clay
http://www.polymercreations4u.com/

Polymeri Online 24.1.08

Hello Australian polyclayers! while touring the internet i visited the Aussiepolyclayers Forum Index and seeking for some talented artists :) here are 2 of them

Melanie Dilday - Since she discovered polymer clay about 8 years ago, her life has taken a 180 degree turnaround for the better. she lives, loves, breathes, teaches and dreams about clay. Melanie holds private clay retreats in her studio near Byron Bay Australia and exhibit and sell in various bead shops and galleries in Australia. http://members.westnet.com.au/melandcurt/polyclay/
http://clayhappenings.blogspot.com/
etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5063669

Debra Sutton - Debra is a a mixed media artist. She is working on jewellery design, in particular polymer clay, she also work with glass beads and metal findings and enjoy creating unique pieces of wearable art for everyone to enjoy.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bambam_studios/sets/

Check the Aussiepolyclayers Forum Index - some great stuff there!http://aussiepolyclay.21.forumer.com/index.php

And to another side of the globe - beadscraftz is a graphic designer currently focused on jewellery created from Polymer Clay. She is from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
http://www.flickr.com/people/beadscraftz/

Bill Nelson's site is amazing, i couldn't stop staring at his amazing sculptures, such a talented artist! Bill uses SUPER SCULPEY for his static figures and paper clay for his one-off ventriloquist figures.
http://www.billnelsonstudios.com/
http://www.billnelsonstudios.com/pages/ventfigsdolls.html

You can find his online lessons at http://www.thatcreativeplace.com/html/bill_nelson.html
more artists at that site too!

Israeli Maya Lukash - wwwlady makes amazing detailed jewelry
http://www.happy-bead.com/index.php
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5426194

meritaporlared / María Sáiz is a polymer clayer in her free time, she is from Sevilla, Spain
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7201667@N03/sets/72157594573263157/
www.japaya.blogspot.com/

Polymeri Online 17.1.08

River Wolfe - 15yrs ago he started making and selling Polymer Clay jewelry. He began beading as a hobby after a long stay in the hospital, then as a way to make unique gifts for family and friends. When he discovered what he could do with Polymer Clay, quickly began making his own beads and then making jewelry with the beads.
http://www.polymer-clay-art.com/
http://www.polymer-clay-art.com/techniques.html
Take a look at his Valentine Bracelet - lovely project!
http://www.polymer-clay-art.com/bracelet.html

Cuties! Animals and cake toppers, by Louise Hunter
http://www.huntersdesigns.moonfruit.com/
and her Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5290008

I found this Kaleidoscope cane at Nikkiken20002000 - Linda Riopel flickr gallery - take some if your skinner blends or spirals and joining them to a one-of-a-kind cane -http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikkiken/sets/72157603674073426/

Kreative Karma - her artistic creations have spanned many years and many mediums from Sketching to Digital Art to Fiber Work, and on to her latest interest, Polymer Clay.

Beautiful geometric canes using an extruder, her other work is also great!http://www.flickr.com/photos/kreativekarma/
http://www.kreativekarma.net/
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5224021

Sheryl Westleigh, a 25 year old sculptor, trying to make a career of it. It's a lot of work but she thinks it's worth it. She creates fantasy and animal sculpture in polymer clay and mixed media.
Noadi's Art - Fantasy sculpture, jewelry, etc.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/noadi/
http://noadi.cywh.com/
http://noadi.blogspot.com/
Don't miss her video - how to build an armature stand to support your sculpts while you work on them